Rab Alpha Flash vs The North Face FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie
Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.
Lightweight fleece jacket using Polartec Alpha Direct fabric. Breathable and packable mid-layer for expeditions with minimalist weight philosophy.
Grid-fleece midlayer with stretch fabric for dynamic movement. Features full-zip front, kangaroo pocket, and thumbholes at cuffs.
Building a pack? Add either one to your HikeLoad list, or drop its weight into the base weight calculator, and see what it does to your total weight.
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Rab Alpha Flash vs The North Face FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie: which should you buy?
If saving weight is your priority, the The North Face FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie wins — at 204 g it is 51 g (20%) lighter than the Rab Alpha Flash (255 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.
See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest clothing - mid layer page, or browse the full gear weight database.